Not even the most passionate Hull City supporter could have predicted the unexpected turn their season would take.
With a last-minute goal from Oli McBurnie against Middlesbrough, the Tigers, who narrowly avoided relegation last season by finishing 21st in the Championship, will be competing in the Premier League next year.
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The East Yorkshire club has defied expectations, a transfer embargo, and off-field controversies surrounding Southampton and Spygate to achieve a stunning promotion.
So, how will they celebrate? The players will be heading to Las Vegas, a trip promised to them by club owner Acun Ilicali.
However, head coach Sergej Jakirovic will skip the Las Vegas getaway, opting instead for a quieter retreat with his family in Croatia. “We have a beautiful coast there,” Jakirovic shared. “They go to Vegas. What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. This is not for me.”
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Jakirovic’s Charismatic Leadership Rebuilds His Reputation as Dreams Come True
Before Saturday’s match, Jakirovic remarked that his team had been “collateral damage” from Southampton’s playoff exclusion, forcing Hull to quickly prepare for Middlesbrough just days before the final.
Despite facing these challenges and being labeled as underdogs—just as they were in their semi-final against Millwall—Hull emerged victorious in a sweltering Wembley atmosphere.
This promotion capped off a remarkable debut season in English football for Hull’s coach, a former Bosnia international.
Jakirovic had previously clinched titles in Bosnia and Croatia and experienced a short stint in Turkey at the end of last season, but his reputation within the UK was primarily tied to his time at Dinamo Zagreb when they were thrashed 9-2 by Bayern Munich in the Champions League in 2024-25, leading to his dismissal shortly thereafter.
If Jakirovic came to England to prove himself, then he has undeniably succeeded.
“When Oli scored, I thought to myself, ‘Is this a dream? Is this a movie?’,” Jakirovic expressed. “I felt so emotional. Many players were crying tears of joy.
“This journey has been incredible. I think we are still absorbing all that we’ve achieved today. We’ve overcome numerous obstacles.
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“I’m extremely proud of everyone, especially the players; they are the stars of this show.”
After being placed under a transfer embargo last summer due to late payments to other clubs, Hull was limited to signing free agents and loans. Despite these constraints, Jakirovic kept the team in contention for promotion this season, ultimately leading them to a playoff victory against Millwall, who had finished ten points above Hull.
The 49-year-old presents a commanding presence, yet his players thrive under his laid-back leadership.
Following Saturday’s triumph, he humorously acknowledged that Southampton may have observed his team’s training, remarking that it wouldn’t be an issue since “sometimes we are too bad.”
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‘I Thought, “What Have I Gotten Myself Into?”‘
Hull narrowly avoided relegation to the third tier on the last day of the previous season, drawing 1-1 at Portsmouth.
Weeks later, Martin Hodge was appointed as head of recruitment and candidly admitted that while watching from the stands that day at Fratton Park, he had questioned if the role was the right fit for him. However, the outcome proved most favorable.
“We assembled a squad with the primary goal of escaping this league. The players have been outstanding, and the manager has been refreshingly different,” Hodge told BBC Radio Humberside.
“Entering my 52nd year in football, experiencing many highs with Wales and various big clubs, I would say this is my greatest achievement.
“After watching the last match at Portsmouth, I thought, ‘What have I joined?’ So, in just a year, I believe the biggest credit and achievement belongs to our players and the management team.”
Hodge, who recruited seasoned Championship players like defender John Egan and hero McBurnie, will now work with a bigger budget for the upcoming season.
Ilicali raised eyebrows leading up to the playoff final by suggesting he might pursue legal action if reinstated Boro defeated his team.
The ramifications of Spygate could linger, but there will be no need for that particular intervention now.
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“This is undoubtedly the best day of my life. Throughout my career, I’ve spearheaded many successes stemming from my humble beginnings. Yet, football is a wild experience,” Ilicali remarked to Sky Sports.
“We waited anxiously during the stoppage time. In those last five minutes, I was so immobilized that I couldn’t bear to witness a last-minute goal against us.”
Though preparations for the Premier League will eventually take precedence, for now, whether in Vegas, Croatia, Turkey, or East Yorkshire, everyone associated with Hull has reason to celebrate.